RF truck convoy not allowed transit to Kosovo

In the morning no steps have been made yet, he added

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MOSCOW, December 14 (Itar-Tass) — The problem for transit of the Russian truck convoy carrying humanitarian aid to Kosovo has not been solved yet and this violates humanitarian law, director of the Russian Emergencies Ministry Department for International Activity Yuri Brazhnikov said on Wednesday.

“The problem for allowing transit of the Russian truck convoy with humanitarian aid to be delivered to Kosovar Serbs has not been solved yet. It is still unclear when it is solved. We’ve not received an official response,” the official said.

In the morning no steps have been made yet, he added.

Brazhnikov recalled that on Tuesday, the first column, including 25 trucks, had arrived at the Jarinje checkpoint in order to go farther – to Kosovska-Mitrovica. Three trucks have been checked. Two trucks have been stopped with a reference to a decision of the EU mission. “This is unacceptable for the Russian Federation. On the contrary, this violates the elementary customs rules because truckload shipment is torn between,” he said.

He stressed that Russia wanted “humanitarian right not be violated and necessary aid to be provided to those in need”. The official said Kosovar Serbs needed foodstuffs, cloths, power stations because electric power outages had been reported.

At the same time, Brazhnikov said the ministry had not completed its mission. “Serbia has also asked for medical equipment supplies. This aid will be delivered by air and then by trucks to Kosovo’s Red Cross,” he added.

On Monday, December 12, a truck convoy of the Russian Emergencies Ministry arrived in Serbia. The convoy has crossed the Romanian-Serbian border. At present, customs formalities are being completed after trucks leaves for the city of Kraljevo. The convoy is expected to arrive in the evening while representatives of the Russian Emergencies Ministry meeting local authorities. Under the coordinated plan, Russians will pass the night at Kraljevo and then they will leave for Kosovska-Mitrovica on Tuesday morning. The cargoes will be handed over to the Serbian Red Cross.

Earlier it was planned that the convoy would arrive in Serbia last Sunday, December 11. But the truck convoy has been delayed by 12 hours.

The convoy departed to Serbia from the 179th rescue centre located in Noginsk, Moscow region, on December 7. It includes 25 cars, which carry 284 tonne humanitarian aid – power stations, cloths, foodstuffs, dishes and field furniture.